Family and friends of Daniel Bishop said justice was not served on sentencing day for the woman convicted in the crash that killed the University of Miami student on March 4, 2024.
“The courtroom was packed full of people. Most were direct family and family friends,” a UM student and close friend of Daniel’s who attended the sentencing and requested to stay anonymous, said. “There were a few UM students; however, I know many felt that it would be too emotional to attend.”
Daniel was a senior mathematics and psychology major at UM set to graduate in 2024 who was struck and killed while riding his scooter near Lejeune Road and Altara Avenue. Following his death, there was an outpouring of support from students and faculty who were impacted by Daniel.
During the hearing on Jan. 9, Veronica Bilbao de la Vega was found guilty and received probation instead of the maximum sentence of 60 days in jail. The 38-year-old was also given a traffic ticket for having a license that expired in 2020.
“My son had everything to live for,” Susan Bishop told the local media outside the courtroom. “He had the brightest future. He was a teacher and a mentor and a leader, and he had everything to live for. He had his whole life in front of him.”
Bilbao de la Vega pleaded no contest to the charges. During the hearing, she appeared visibly upset as an officer testified about the crash, recounting that both wheels of the truck she was driving struck Daniel, who was crossing the street at the time. The walk signal was on, and she was driving at 17 mph through a green light when the accident happened. Bilbao de la Vega remained at the scene.
BikeSafe and WalkSafe, two groups associated with the University of Miami health system, identified the site of Bishop’s crash as having a commonplace but hazardous design that endangers pedestrians crossing the street.
The design is a common setup whereby drivers can turn left on a solid green light while yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. At the Le Jeune Road crossing and similar intersections that use the “left-turn-yield-on-green” light cycle, pedestrians get the “walk” signal while drivers are turning into their path. “There’s no warning you can get T-boned,” according to WalkSafe.
The Coral Gables City Commission approved assigning traffic safety officers to Coral Gables High School. Police Chief Edward Hudak recommended using officers with citation authority instead of crossing guards.
Bilbao de la Vega is a public defender and the wife of the president of a prominent realty company. Before her sentencing, her husband asked a judge to consider her character.
“I want the court to know this accident has deeply affected Veronica,” he said. “The moment I arrived at the scene, Veronica was inconsolable. She was shaking uncontrollably. From that day forward, your honor, she has not been the same person. She prays with a rosary every night seeking solace for not only herself but her family.”
Bishop’s family hoped to see Bilbao de la Vega serve jail time, but she was instead sentenced to six months probation and 500 hours of community service in tutoring or mentoring underprivileged kids.
“I don’t think anyone is really satisfied with the outcome of the sentencing. Regardless of intention, someone died,” the student said. “Obviously, nothing is going to bring Daniel back, but I think the outcome was a little lenient.”
Bishop’s mother spoke in court during the sentencing.
“How can a lawyer, a mother, a community member drive knowingly with an expired license, not be careful when watching the road in front of her, and kill an innocent pedestrian on a crosswalk?” she said. “There’s no way to enact any real justice, and the punishment will never fit the crime.”
Attorney Robert Boyers, who is representing the Bishop family, said they will soon file a civil lawsuit against Bilbao de la Vega.
“Criminal law has limitations in terms of holding negligent parties accountable, even when that negligence resulted in catastrophic loss,” he said to WSVN. “The prosecutors’ hands were tied, but ours are not, and we intend to hold the defendant fully accountable in the civil justice system.”